section b essay

How do media representations influence collective identity?
- You may refer to one group of people or more in your answer


I chose .....
Discuss the different ways in which groups of people are represented by media.
- You may refer to one group of people or more in your answer

After studying and researching the specific group of people classed as 'chavs' I have come to realise many films represent this social class which influences people to follow that stereotype. The news then informs the public of symbolic behaviour caused by this group and focuses on the negative which then resorts to moral panic.

The deviant youths known as 'chavs' or the 'empty category' (Giroux Theory 1997) need constant monitoring by the police or their parents so that they conform to hegemonic values (Gramsci Theory 1971). 'Chavs' formed from the 1970's social group called the 'Mods'. The film Quadrophenia is about this particular social group. They wore Green jackets, rode scooters and took this addictive common drug. Riots were started in the streets because of the Mods and they had no respect for authority for example, in the rioting scene they through deck chairs at the police and knocked over an elderly couple on the beach. This shows that today this respect for authority still hasn't changed and the rioting hasn't ended. The main character (Jimmy) eventually commits suicide from drug use. 
Another film representing this particular group is Harry Brown, made in 2001 and directed by Daniel Barber. The main characters are Ben Drew and Michael Kane. Ben Drew is involved in a gang and Michael Kane tries to end this gang. The youth in this film wear hoodies which comes across intimidating to Michael Kane and carry weapons such as guns and knives. There are elements of realism in this film through the use of camera angles for example, the opening scene is filmed on a mobile phone from one of the gang members. This makes us feel as though we are there in that moment. It is also shaky as they film in the park, this could be the effect after drugs. We then witness the gun shot and the car accident. This creates fear in our minds and creates this image in our heads of this social group. A quote from a gang member 'For them out there, its just entertainment.' This is another example of reality because it shows that youth on the streets today enjoy the entertainment of rioting.

Over time not much has changed but new technology and weapons have now been introduced. This is shown all over the news; we are constantly reminded about violence happening around us and we automatically without thinking symbolise and link this violence with the working class or known as the 'empty category.'

The Cultivation Theory studied by Gerbner in 1986 states that people who watch a lot of Television overestimated the levels of crime which he called 'mean world syndrome.' The news on the television, newspapers, the internet, magazines and films influence peoples perceptions of the world. We create our own view and opinions through what we absorb from the media. The news has the most impact created on us because they always inform us with the negative and not very often the positive. This then changes our perceptions and we see the world and this 'empty category' with a negative view.